The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-10-06

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meet all objections that were started
and insisted with unyield.
ing pertinac.ty that the in
vitation should be accepted.
At last and after all persuasion
seemed to fail he broke out with
this declaration: People up where 1
live don't think man is fit for Pres
ident who has never seen Chicago
| have often thought Of this incident
since that time and sometimes when
I have felt that I was not doing for
the people and the public welfare
all that might be done or all that /
would like to do, l have wondered
whether things would have gone on
better if had visited Chicago. In
deed it has, l believe, been publicly
stated on one or two occa sions lately
when the shortcomings of thepreseIt
chief executive were under discus
sion that nothing better could be
expected Ut 4 man who had never
been West of some designated place
or river, and this suppose means
the same that my Caicago friend
meant and involuntarily the same
accusation and conclusion of my
alleged official crimes and misde>
meanorsare thus charitably account
ed for | shall not complain while l
confess that declaration of the rep
resentative of this city as l have
given. 1t is evidence of that local
pride and loyalty of which your
great city is striking monument.
All have heard of it if they have
not seen it, for every one of
your people seems to have
organized himself into a committee
of one to spread its g!ories abroad.
Now that am here, feel like say
ing with the Queen of Sheba, the
half was not told me. My amaze
ment is greatly increased when I
recall a little recent history. In
1882 the town of Chicago was incor>
porated. Upon the question of ins
corporation thirteen votes We're cast,
one of which was in the negative.
We do not know the reason which
actuated this citizen on his adverse
vote, but ifhe were here to-day l be-
lieYe be would be heartily ashamed.
In five days after its incorporation
as a town Chicago held its first
election for her town officers,
and we are told that a total vote
on this occasion was %. We look
in vain tor any trace of 'boodlers' in
those days, though we are told that
the first building after the establish
ment of the town was log Jail. In
1887, when Chicago was incorpora-
ted as city, its population was A.
600. The number of its inhabitants
in 1877 was 100000 or upwards, and
the valuation of its property proba-
bly, S2S0,000,000 Its immense
growth and volume of business had
made it a marvel among modern
cities. At this time it was visited
by direful calamity without par
ailel in extent and destruction
which threatened all its promise of
greatness and apparently ended its
career. In October of that year a
fire occurred which burned over
city of twe1ty-one hundred acres,
killed 200 people consumed thou
sands Of buildings, made homeless
100000 people and destroyed $780,
000,O00 worth of property, Then
follows an exhibition Of enterprise
and bravery as unparalleled as the
destruction which called them forth.
The citizens Of Chicago lost no time
in lamentation aud not for moment
did they lose their faith in the sure
destiny of the city. Almost among
its embers they commenced busi-
II, SIS. Upon It's ashes they began to
build Sixteen years have passed
and there has risen here city many
fold more populous, more beautiful
and more prosperous than you lost
in 1871. VINO have greater right
to be proud and satisfied than the
citizens Of Chicago? You have said
that the President ought TO see
Chicago. | am here to see it and
its hospitable, large hearted people,
but because your city is 40 great
and iuteres .es so large and impor-
tant | know you Will allow me to
suggest that l have left at home
a city you ought to zee and know
more about,
In point Of fact it would be vel
for you to keep your eyes closely
upon it. Your servants and agent;
are there, they are there to prhtec
your interests and aid your efforts
to advance your prosperity and
weIl-being. Your busIling tIade
and your wearing ceaseless activity
of hand and brain will not yield the
results you deserve unless wisdom
guides thej policy of your govern.
ment and unless your needs are re
garded at the Capitol of the Nation
1t will be we'll for you not to forge
that in the performance of your
political duties with thoughtfulness
aud broad patriotism there lies not
only safeguard against business
disaster, but importa mt obligation:
of citizenship"
On the long line Of march the
masses were noisy though orderly
and for the most part kept the line
of the curbs on either side; but ter
thousand young Americans from {
to 20 years old, defied cavalry, in
fantry, artillery and police, broke
through all restraints, clung to car
riages, and when driven from On(